This is a list of characters from the

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

and

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

sitcom ''

Diff'rent Strokes ''Diff'rent Strokes'' is an American television sitcom, which aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackso ...

''.

Main characters table

Phillip Drummond

Phillip Drummond was portrayed by

Conrad Bain Conrad Stafford Bain (February 4, 1923 – January 14, 2013) was a Canadian-American comedian and actor. His television credits include a leading role as Phillip Drummond in the sitcom ''Diff'rent Strokes'', as Dr. Arthur Harmon on '' Maude'', ...

. He is a friendly, wealthy white

widow A widow (female) or widower (male) is a person whose spouse has died. Terminology The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed ''widowhood''. An archaic term for a widow is "relict," literally "someone left over". This word can so ...

er, who runs ''Trans-Allied, Incorporated.'' He was born December 3, 1931 in

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

, New York. (This made him Conrad Bain's junior by eight years.) Phillip has a daughter, Kimberly, and two adopted African American sons, Willis and his younger brother Arnold Jackson. He also has an eccentric elder sister named Sophia (played by

Dody Goodman Dody Goodman (October 28, 1914 – June 22, 2008) was an American character actress. She played the mother of the title character in the television series ''Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman'', her distinctive high-pitched voice announcing the s ...

). Arnold and Willis' mother, Lucy Jackson (portrayed by Todd Bridges' real-life mother), worked as a housekeeper for the Drummonds years ago; her death-bed wish was that Phillip would take care of her two sons. In the series pilot, Phillip welcomes Arnold and Willis into his home. Phillip had dated several women, and would later get remarried to Maggie McKinney, a television aerobics instructor (played by

Dixie Carter Dixie Virginia Carter (May 25, 1939 – April 10, 2010) was an American actress. She starred as Julia Sugarbaker on the sitcom ''Designing Women'' (1986–1993) and as Randi King on the drama series ''Family Law'' (1999–2002). She was nomin ...

from 1983 to 1985 and

Mary Ann Mobley Mary Ann Mobley (February 17, 1937 – December 9, 2014) was an American actress, television personality, and Miss America 1959. Career Mobley was born in 1937 in Biloxi, Mississippi. After her reign as Miss America 1959, Mobley embarked on a c ...

from 1985 to 1986). Maggie subsequently introduced Sam McKinney (

Danny Cooksey Daniel Ray Allen Cooksey Jr. (born November 2, 1975) is an American actor and musician. He is best known for his roles in television shows, such as ''Diff'rent Strokes'' (during the final three seasons), '' The Cavanaughs'', '' Xiaolin Showdown' ...

), her son from a previous marriage, to the family. Phillip Drummond is the only character to appear in every episode of the series. Phillip, along with Arnold Jackson, made a cameo in the ''

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' is an American television sitcom created by Andy and Susan Borowitz for NBC. It aired from September 10, 1990, to May 20, 1996. The series stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart ...

'' series finale "I, Done," as a potential buyer of the Banks' mansion. On ''The Facts of Life'', Philip appears in ''Rough Housing''.

Kimberly Drummond

Kimberly Drummond was portrayed by

Dana Plato Dana Michelle Plato (née Strain; November 7, 1964 – May 8, 1999) was an American actress. An influential " teen idol" of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Plato was recognized for her television work, for which she was included on VH1's list ...

. She was the only biological child and daughter of wealthy

er, Phillip Drummond (

). She was born on

Park Avenue Park Avenue is a wide New York City boulevard which carries north and southbound traffic in the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. For most of the road's length in Manhattan, it runs parallel to Madison Avenue to the west and Lexington Av ...

in New York City on October 22, 1964. Kimberly was shown as a caring, loving big sister to both Willis and Arnold, but as a wealthy, coming of age teenager, she suffered from various problems. Several such instances took place in season 6, one of which involved a two-part "very special" episode on the dangers of hitchhiking, where she was nearly a victim of sexual assault by a deranged man named Bill (Woody Eney). In another episode, no one in the family knew that she was suffering from

bulimia Bulimia nervosa, also known as simply bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging or fasting, and excessive concern with body shape and weight. The aim of this activity is to expel the body of calories eaten ...

, though she later admitted to having a problem and agreed to seek help. Kimberly wasn't in the opening credits in the 7th season nor the 8th season, however, in the 8th season, there were clips of her and she is shown in the last frame of the opening credits for the 8th season. On ''The Facts of Life'', Kimberly appears in ''Rough Housing''.

Arnold Jackson

Arnold Jackson was portrayed by

Gary Coleman Gary Wayne Coleman (February 8, 1968 – May 28, 2010) was an American actor and comedian. Coleman was the highest-paid child actor on television throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. He was rated first on a list of VH1's "100 Greatest Kid ...

. He was the younger brother of Willis Jackson (

Todd Bridges Todd Anthony Bridges (born May 27, 1965) is an American actor. He portrayed Willis Jackson on the sitcom ''Diff'rent Strokes'' and had a recurring role as Monk on the sitcom ''Everybody Hates Chris.'' Bridges worked as a commentator on the telev ...

), and was born in

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater Ha ...

, New York City on July 19, 1971. Arnold is a "precocious moppet," who was practically known for his

catch phrase A catchphrase (alternatively spelled catch phrase) is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through word of mouth and a variety of mass ...

, "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?", which became a part of popular culture and in 2006 was included in

TV Land TV Land is an American pay television channel owned by Paramount Global through its networks division. Originally a spinoff of Nick at Nite consisting exclusively of classic television shows, the channel now airs a combination of recent and cl ...

's "The 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catch Phrases" special. Arnold's father died in 1975, and his mother died in 1977. His mother worked as a housekeeper for a wealthy

white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

widower, named Philip Drummond (

). Before her death, his mother expressed her wish for her two boys to be cared for by Mr. Drummond. He agreed, and in 1979, he officially adopted Willis and Arnold. Arnold is the main character in the series. In many episodes, he is shown as being a selfish younger brother, or coming up with or being suckered into some scheme to keep out of trouble or obtain his desire of the episode. When the boys first move in with Mr. Drummond, Willis wants to move back to

, while Arnold is satisfied with their new surroundings. Willis eventually changes his mind, and they decide to stay with "Mr. D.," as the boys initially refer to him. In another episode, Arnold has to fight a school bully named "The Gooch," so that he will not pick on him anymore. However, Mr. Drummond does not want Arnold fighting the bully, and ultimately decides that Arnold must make peace with "The Gooch." Arnold, however, listens to his brother, Willis, who tells him to fight back. This ended with Arnold getting a

black eye A periorbital hematoma, commonly called a black eye or a shiner (associated with boxing or stick sports such as hockey), is bruising around the eye commonly due to an injury to the face rather than to the eye. The name refers to the dark-colo ...

, and both boys getting in trouble. Arnold's best friend is Dudley Johnson (played by TV actor Shavar Ross), who, like Arnold, was adopted. Dudley appears in many episodes, and both are involved in various schemes throughout the series.

Steven Mond Steven Mond (born May 12, 1971) is a Canadian former child actor best known for playing Robbie Jason on the sitcom ''Diff'rent Strokes. Mond also guest starred on the TV series ''CHiPs ''CHiPs'' is an American crime drama television series c ...

played Robbie Jayson, Arnold's other best friend, who once pressured him to try drugs. In one episode, Arnold has to have an appendectomy, but is too scared to see the doctor. Arnold, along with Phillip Drummond, made a cameo in the ''Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' series finale, as potential buyers of the Banks' mansion On ''The Facts of Life'', Arnold appears in ''Rough Housing'' and in ''The New Girl: Part 1''.

Willis Jackson

Willis Jackson was portrayed by

. He was the older brother of Arnold. He was born in

on April 27, 1965. The boys' late mother, Lucy, was a housekeeper for a wealthy

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

man, named Phillip Drummond, and her deathbed wish was that he would take care of her two kids, and Philip Drummond officially adopted them in 1979. Willis's

is "Say ''what''?" Willis was portrayed alternately as rebellious and responsible. In one episode, Willis joins a gang named "The Tarantulas." Willis also had a girlfriend, named Charlene DuPrey, portrayed by Janet Jackson of both the television shows '' Good Times'' and '' Fame.'' Jackson appeared from the show's third season (1980–1981) until 1984, through the show's sixth season. Bridges' role as Willis Jackson started to fade, because of casting changes in the 1984–1985 season, when

was added as Sam McKinney, his and Arnold's new younger stepbrother. Bridges did not appear as often in the show's final season, though his name remained in the opening credits. On ''The Facts of Life'', Willis appears in ''Rough Housing'' and in ''Bought and Sold''.

Edna Garrett

Edna Garrett was portrayed by

Charlotte Rae Charlotte Rae Lubotsky (April 22, 1926 – August 5, 2018) was an American character actress and singer whose career spanned six decades. Rae was known for her portrayal of Edna Garrett in the sitcoms ''Diff'rent Strokes'' and its spin-off, '' ...

. She was Mr. Drummond's housekeeper from 1978 to 1979. She left the show midway through the second season to take a job as housemother and dietitian at Eastland School, the school Kimberly attends in

Peekskill, New York Peekskill is a city in northwestern Westchester County, New York, United States, from New York City. Established as a village in 1816, it was incorporated as a city in 1940. It lies on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from ...

. She returned as a guest star in the wedding episode.

Maggie McKinney-Drummond

Maggie McKinney-Drummond was portrayed by Dixie Carter for seasons 6-7, and when the show moved from NBC to ABC for season 8, Mary Ann Mobley took over the role. Carter and Mobley would star opposite each other in the season 5 premiere of ''

Designing Women ''Designing Women'' is an American television sitcom created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason that aired on CBS from September 29, 1986, to May 24, 1993, producing seven seasons and 163 episodes. It was a joint production of Bloodworth/Thomason ...

'', "A Blast From The Past."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Diff'rent Strokes 1970s television-related lists 1980s television-related lists Fictional characters from New York City Lists of American sitcom television characters